Refresh rate tells you how many times per second a screen redraws the picture. It is measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen refreshes 60 times each second, and a 120 Hz screen does so 120 times.
What a higher rate changes
A higher refresh rate gives smoother motion and less blur when something moves quickly on screen, such as a football, a camera pan or a character in a video game. For still pictures and slow scenes there is no visible difference.
Native rate and motion processing
Product pages sometimes state a number that is much higher than the panel can really manage, for example 200 or 400 on a TV that has a 100 Hz panel. These larger figures are usually marketing terms for motion processing, which combines the panel speed with backlight tricks or frame interpolation. The figure to look for is the native refresh rate of the panel, stated as 50 or 60 Hz for basic sets and 100 or 120 Hz for faster ones.
Frame rate of the content
Refresh rate and frame rate are different. Frame rate is how many pictures the source delivers per second. Films are typically shot at 24 frames per second, many broadcasts at 25 or 30, and games can run at 60 or more. A screen cannot add detail that the source lacks, but a higher refresh rate can show uneven frame rates more cleanly. A 120 Hz screen divides evenly by 24, which helps film playback look steady.
Common values
- 50 or 60 Hz: standard for everyday television, streaming and office use.
- 100 or 120 Hz: smoother sport and action content, and the usual target for current game consoles and powerful PCs.
- 144 Hz and above: mostly seen on PC monitors and some gaming TVs, where graphics cards can produce many frames per second.
Related settings
Variable refresh rate (VRR) lets the screen follow the changing frame rate of a game, which reduces tearing and stutter. It depends on the connection too: running 4K at 120 Hz needs an HDMI 2.1 port or equivalent, and not every input on a TV may support it. If the specification says that only one or two ports offer full speed, plan which devices go where.
How to choose
For watching films and streaming, 60 Hz is adequate. For sport or games, look for a native 100 or 120 Hz panel and check that the ports match your console or computer. Always read whether the number given refers to the panel or to a processing mode, and check that your source device can actually send the signal you want to use.